Sussex PCC election profile: James Doyle, Green Party

My name is James Doyle, a district councillor for the Green Party in West Sussex.

I live in Worthing, and my wife recently retired after thirty years’ service as a Sussex Police officer.

Like other public services, the police have suffered six years of cuts and creeping privatisation. When services are sold off to private companies, profit is prioritised over people. I will fight tirelessly to protect and increase police resources.

I support more emphasis on crime prevention and reducing re-offending. For example, restorative justice helps offenders face the consequences of their actions. This is proven to prevent unnecessary criminalisation, and reduce re-offending rates.

Crucially, we should have a police service, not a police force: working for local communities. Homelessness and drug use are major problems in Sussex, and I will address them with an honest, evidence-based approach.

Criminalising our most vulnerable people is not only inhumane, it simply doesn’t work. The police also must do more to tackle hate crime in Sussex - racism, domestic abuse and LGBT abuse are not prioritised.

A Green vote on the 5th May is a vote for open, transparent policing that protects the rights, freedoms and safety of everyone in the community.